Concert Review: Cole Lumpkin Shows He Was Born To Play At Mercury Lounge
Cole Lumpkin is a genius, and he knows it. Watching him play at Mercury Lounge was like watching a mad-scientist though a glass window; organizing chemical jazz rhythms and placing on the board of sound masterful, sonic equation. Music can strike any aspect of humanity; its heart, mind, feet, etc. Yet, for Cole Lumpkin, music strikes for his blood and curdles it until perfect infusion.
Watching Cole Lumpkin tweak and shake through his set is fascinating because it is so clear that he FEELS his music. He closes his eyes with a fervor as if Sound, as an entity, is crash-landing on his brain and chiseling nerves for sparks. Honestly, he is so frenetic, you want to watch with popcorn and a soda. Yet, I say this 100% complimentary. There are artists that give a show, and then there are artists like Cole Lumpkin that are the show. It is clear that his band agrees with this assessment as they look on with admiration for his cues and thumbs up. He is so sprightly aware of every single rhythm in his arrangement that music MUST literally be in his blood. It circles so much within his being, which is why Lumpkin lyrics aim for the simple. For him verses are meant to be catchy hooks you repeat with emotion, but let the instrumentals do more of the talking. From “Insatiable” to “ Shared Worlds”, lyrics were more like shooting stars amongst a galaxy of chords, drumroll, and saxophone. Yes, THE SAX was back, and blazing through each song, as Lumpkin improved and riffed off on his keys and guitar. It was evident that Lumpkin arranges music to feel extraordinary; as if jazz- pop could be a psychedelic experience.
What enamored me most about Cole Lumpkin’s sound is that it felt like a musical pond in which each instrument leapt from the other. You cannot help but feel the jolted ambiance as if both Lumpkin and the crowd’s hearts were jumping around like frogs trying to find a leaf to land upon; only to get caught up by the fun that is to leap. As a performer, Cole Lumpkin makes you want to leap for joy. For More Information On Cole Lumpkin Click Here.
